Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Musical talent seems to be very pervasive in the TS/TG/CD community.
No idea why this is so, but it really does seem to be true.

Any thoughts?

I do know more ->-bleeped-<-s that are into music then members of the general public.  Perhaps its part of the difference, or it might be that we found that music was not gender hung up, so it gave us something to do as we grew up.

Can you add multi-instrumentalist to the list of options in the poll, then I can vote  :)

I play various instruments; fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar, banjo, also some hurdy gurdy, pennywhistle, keyboards and percussion.

Most of my closest friends within the trans community are also musicians.

y2g

I was a music major in high school.  I lost my music when I decided to supress my true self and make a go at pretending to be a man.  I played a number of instruments, mostly my piano, and wrote quite a bit of my own stuff too.

I've wondered if transition would bring the urge to make music, which was so strong when I was young, back to me and it hasn't.  At least not yet.  I spend more of my time at the keyboard I'm typing on, I guess.

Hugs & Smiles
Emelye

Quote from: y2gender on December 22, 2007, 08:12:09 AM
Can you add multi-instrumentalist to the list of options in the poll, then I can vote  :)
I play various instruments; fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar, banjo, also some hurdy gurdy, pennywhistle, keyboards and percussion.

I agree, that was a tough vote.  These days I'm doing almost as much with mandolin as with guitars.  But I do have an eclectic collection of stringed noisemakers.  And yes, I do play them all.  Occasionally I will get behind the keyboard or the drum set as well.

Quote from: y2gender on December 22, 2007, 08:12:09 AM
Most of my closest friends within the trans community are also musicians.

You mean, like me?

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fganjataz.com%2F01smileys%2Fimages%2Fsmileys%2FloopyBlonde-blinking.gif&hash=4545ddf8251cf9c32ae6074d56e48bc34a755857)Kristi

Quote from: Kristi on December 22, 2007, 08:44:07 AM
I agree, that was a tough vote.  These days I'm doing almost as much with mandolin as with guitars. 

Hmmm, in our conversations about music, I don't remember ever hearing that you also played mandolin!

Quote

Quote from: y2gender on December 22, 2007, 08:12:09 AM
Most of my closest friends within the trans community are also musicians.

You mean, like me?

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fganjataz.com%2F01smileys%2Fimages%2Fsmileys%2FloopyBlonde-blinking.gif&hash=4545ddf8251cf9c32ae6074d56e48bc34a755857)Kristi

Yes :) I really hope we get a chance to play together in person sometime!

Could you imagine the band we could have of Susan's Place musicians, that would be totally cool!!!!  8)

y2g

could i be the 'Bez' Y'know, the guy who dances around with the maracca but doesn't actually play anything.

Quote from: Pica Pica on December 22, 2007, 02:44:45 PM
could i be the 'Bez' Y'know, the guy who dances around with the maracca but doesn't actually play anything.

Sure! I can't imagine this band without you. Maybe we could do a number called "Deep Gender", we'll play some funky weird background music while you speak.

y2g

I'm a choir member. I also play the violin and classical piano.

Quote from: y2gender on December 22, 2007, 05:05:10 PM

Quote from: Pica Pica on December 22, 2007, 02:44:45 PM
could i be the 'Bez' Y'know, the guy who dances around with the maracca but doesn't actually play anything.

Sure! I can't imagine this band without you. Maybe we could do a number called "Deep Gender", we'll play some funky weird background music while you speak.

y2g

like rex harrison?

Quote from: Renate on December 22, 2007, 07:05:01 PM
It's the reason that I don't want to screw around with my voice.
Even if I master a female voice, I'd have to switch to a baritone to sing.
What do you do for a solution?

Renate

I'm also a baritone, mostly folk or blues. I have no desire to sing higher, so I guess other people will just have to get over it  ;D

y2g

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in grade school I was pretty good at playing the trumpet.

I would love to be able to play the piano.  I took lessons but never learned anything.  My kid bro could play by ear.  He died in 1998 from a heroin OD.  The little s**t never told me he could make music.

I miss him a whole bunch.

Is it OK if I just play the radio?

Wing Walker

Quote from: y2gender on December 22, 2007, 05:05:10 PM

Quote from: Pica Pica on December 22, 2007, 02:44:45 PM
could i be the 'Bez' Y'know, the guy who dances around with the maracca but doesn't actually play anything.

Sure! I can't imagine this band without you. Maybe we could do a number called "Deep Gender", we'll play some funky weird background music while you speak.

y2g

Here's the second song we have to do.  Maybe we need to do this now because it definitely has a holiday feel to it:

Warning:  If you have no sense of humor about trans issues, do NOT listen to this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssa_56NzKOM

(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fganjataz.com%2F01smileys%2Fimages%2Fsmileys%2FloopyBlonde-blinking.gif&hash=4545ddf8251cf9c32ae6074d56e48bc34a755857)

Renate, its possible to sing with a female voice if you've got some range.
You'll have to sing in the upper part of your range in a head voice
and change voice resonnance  by tongue and mouth and voice box placement.

Basic guitar. Poorly, lol.

I was TRYING to learn violin... when I got distracted by this "transition" thing. But I sooooo badly want to learn! It's one of the most beautiful sounds in the world to me.

~Kate~

I never played a musical instrument, not even at school.

I like music (all types) but have never had the time, inclination and will power to learn how to play one.

Thats sad.

I used to play piano and alto saxophone.

Won some major national awards, I used to absolutely love it. Could have gone a long way with either of them. Had to give it in when I was diagnosed with a rare benign cancerous growth in two of the fingers on my left hand - too much pressure on either of them causes the bone to shatter. I break either of them one more time, I will probably have to get them amputated.

Oh well.

Megan

I'm a music performance major.  i've been playing the trumpet for seven years.  for all you people who have a strong appreciation for music, i recommend seeing august rush.  it made me cry

I've been playing guitar for 3 years. I have a B.C Rich Mockingbird Firebreather and a Jackson JS30RR. I am ok on the guitar, I'm not quite Jimi Hendrix on it yet but perhaps one day... lol
I mainly play Rock and Metal style.

Guitar player here too...about, 25 yrs. now...

1- Fender USA strat, 1-Gibson Les Paul (standard), another fender strat all Steve Vai'd out (chopped to hell and back >:D ), 1- DiPinto Galaxy (like a fender jaguar body style), 1-fender acoustic "...ya. tis your grampa's guitars..." - Swigsgar Swigself (Deth Klok).

Amp: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (i like reverb so what!?! >:( ;) >:D )

I play in a recorder consort.

I'm not too shabby on the doumbek and can pick up percussion instruments fairly easily.

Val

so get this, the trumpet ensemble that im in has been chosen to go to a national competition in which only the best 25 get chosen.  itll be in DC and we leave this sunday night!!!!

I'm a drummer but don't have anyone to jam with... >:(

I can play any instrument you give me, just don't expect it to sound very good. 

Seriously though I play the guitar and the piano (guitar a bit more).

I play the drums & I'm hella good at it to :laugh:

I studied double bass performance for a B.M. in college, played classical with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and Cobb Symphony Orchestra, do a bit of jazz and bluegrass with it, and am beginning to use it in my songwriting.

I have been playing guitar for 12 years now or so.  But I'm not very good.  Mostly blues, rock, and pop, though I'm picking up jazz. 

Am learning piano, slowly.

Do vocals- and yes, I sing like a boy.  Even if I ever develop a topvoice, I'm just going to sing in whatever feels right, and love the genderf***.

And I studied classical composition for a few years, wrote some symphonic music and chamber pieces which have been performed at schools I attended.  I have a really crappy recording of my bass concerto being performed by a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with my high school orchestra, who couldn't play it.  Apparently high schoolers can't do mixed time signatures.

KK, I missed this thread the first time around...  It may have been better with check boxes instead of asking for just one choice LoL

I used to play concert piano...  <Im not that good anymore, but given a keyboard and some time to knock the rust off and I'll do just fine>

I play the flute... but my ability is about as rusty as the piano if not more so.... but like riding a bike, you never forget LoL...

I can also play pretty much any other brass, woodwind, key or percussion instrument out there given a week or two to learn the piece you want me to play >:D

I'm also a vocalist... I can sing sing in the male range... At the moment I can do backing vocals in the female range, and am almost to the point of being able to actually sing sing for prolonged periods of time... Its awsome....

But... my true musical passion...  the first instrument I had wanted to play.... and the last one I picked up....  The full professional rock/performance drum kit...  Im a drummer by trade and passion... been in the same band for near on 8 years <we have the 8 year aniversery just after the middle of this month <march>  Granted they <my bandmates> drive me INSANE for the most part now, its still quite an accomplishment...  I'll have been playing consistantly <well, mostly anyways... I dont practice like I should and had long periods with out a kit due to theft>

www.myspace.com/stillistand (http://www.myspace.com/stillistand)= My band.... and no those jerks STILL havnt updated it and WONT give me the passwords so I can do it myself....


KK, and I DO wish I had noticed this thread the first time around LoL

Wow, metal without the Cookie Monster vocals, that's getting pretty rare.

I'm frequently reminded (mostly because I made a sign and posted it on my amp) of what a friend told me years ago: "If you skip one day of practice, you notice.  If you skip two days, your wife notices. If you skip three days, everyone notices."

Quote from: Zythyra on December 22, 2007, 08:12:09 AM
Can you add multi-instrumentalist to the list of options in the poll, then I can vote  :)

I play various instruments; fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar, banjo, also some hurdy gurdy, pennywhistle, keyboards and percussion.

Most of my closest friends within the trans community are also musicians.

y2g

Me too......Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Keyboards.....
Over the years I've played and sung on various sessions and CD's

Quote from: Keira on December 22, 2007, 10:50:48 PM

Renate, its possible to sing with a female voice if you've got some range.
You'll have to sing in the upper part of your range in a head voice
and change voice resonnance  by tongue and mouth and voice box placement.

That's true, my voice is naturally very high and my friend who has a studio gets me in to sing the high backing vocal harmonies which are out of the guys range......

What if you sing? Does the voice count as an instrument? :)

Posted on: March 08, 2008, 01:16:08 PM

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Quote from: Berliegh on March 08, 2008, 11:28:00 AM

Quote from: Zythyra on December 22, 2007, 08:12:09 AM
Can you add multi-instrumentalist to the list of options in the poll, then I can vote  :)

I play various instruments; fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar, banjo, also some hurdy gurdy, pennywhistle, keyboards and percussion.

Most of my closest friends within the trans community are also musicians.

y2g

Me too......Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Keyboards.....
Over the years I've played and sung on various sessions and CD's

Quote from: Keira on December 22, 2007, 10:50:48 PM

Renate, its possible to sing with a female voice if you've got some range.
You'll have to sing in the upper part of your range in a head voice
and change voice resonnance  by tongue and mouth and voice box placement.

That's true, my voice is naturally very high and my friend who has a studio gets me in to sing the high backing vocal harmonies which are out of the guys range......

Do you guys have anything recorded as a sample? I love singing and it's always interesting to study a fellow singer's technique.

Quote from: soldierjane on March 08, 2008, 01:44:32 PM
Do you guys have anything recorded as a sample? I love singing and it's always interesting to study a fellow singer's technique.

I can send you a copy of one of the songs I did backing vocals on. I can e-mail it to you if you message me...It was actually released as an extra track on a CD single..

Since this is about musical talent, or lack thereof, ahem,
with let others be the judge of that. I posted in the General section,
a link to a song a did, with music if any are brave enough to
hear it  ;)

Quote from: heatherrose on March 10, 2008, 01:46:07 PM

I play the vocal cords.
I've been told, by someone who knew her,
that I sound like Janis Loplin.
By others, I've been told that I should
try out for "Idol".
At this piont I don't think I could deal
with the added stress of living in that fishbowl.

I'm reminded of an Arlo Guthrie song,
about a singing dry cleaner.
I wish I could rememmber the name of it.

Love Always,
Heather Rose.

go for it...

Posted on: March 11, 2008, 01:37:32 AM

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Quote from: Keira on March 10, 2008, 02:38:43 PM

Since this is about musical talent, or lack thereof, ahem,
with let others be the judge of that. I posted in the General section,
a link to a song a did, with music if any are brave enough to
hear it  ;)

I'd like to hear it...what style do you write in Keira?

weee, music! i was hoping this'd come up sometime in here!
<boasting>
i started out on piano and violin, worked my way up to guitar, drums, and the flute as well... then ditched them all when i got my first analogue synth >_>

i guess electronic music flows in my veins. And since Keira was brave enough to post a song, i guess i'll follow up with one as well :D

http://music.lolz0r.net/desert%20shortmix%202.mp3 <- done with a couple of rolands & korgs, guitar, and lots of special effects >_>

</boasting>

*quick edit* - Keira, that's really good o.o

Music! Ah, what a perfect way to make an appearance outside the newcomers.

Now...I started off at six with the violin. 6 years ago, I upgraded to the viola, and I never considered going back. I got my hands on this really, really big viola (which I carried in a 1/4 cello case until I got the right case from a manufacturer in Germany ^^) and it has the most beautiful sound. I don't play it near enough, or well enough, but it's enough for me. I also fitted a pick-up to it, so I've been using it in some our performances with the band (mostly rock)

I also sing a lot. I am, at the moment, on my way to becoming a proffessional barytone...I feel kinda bad about that, since I really want to sing alto, and I'm just using the techniques I learn to make high-pitch easier on my voice. It helps, but I can't really explain how it's done...Anyway...that's two...

Then I play the piano (but I'm horrible), I play the guitar (but I'm worse) and I want a bass (and I'm decent with a bass, but I don't own one...)

I guess that's about it...if I could, though, I'd play every instrument in the world. Like clarinet...trumpet too...cello, I'd want to try sometime...


Moi.

I was a huge band geek growing up, wind ensembles, jazz bands, string orchestra, chorus.  Every year my high school put on a different musical I played a different instrument for the pit orchestra: bass guitar, tuba, piano, and violin.

When I got to college, I switched to primarily concentrating on classical piano, and that's been with me ever since.  Also in college I picked up and started learning guitar, which I still play quite often when the piano is inconvenient.  Can't carry one of them around with you.

And yet, I have never played a kazoo. :)

-Kit

Sirry, I cant play a single note..although I did have a dream of playing music this afternoon when I was taking a nappie  ;D

I had a kazoo once...and I have some other small instruments...like...a pan-flute...a japanese bamboo flute...a tin flute...a...uhm...I guess it's a twin-flute? Oh, and a nose-flute!

All kinds of small things I toy with once in a while when I don't feel like singing.


Moi.

this is kind of embarrising, but i can't actually play the kazoo  ???

I have played the flute for many years when I was growing up, but quit when I got really bored with it. According to my teacher, I shouldn't have stopped since I had a lot of talent.
The way I saw it, you can't force the talent out of a kid who doesn't want to play. I probably wouldn't have minded to start playing another instrument, but that never came up.

A couple of years back I bought a guitar, and hardly did anything with it. Recently, I picked it up again and started practicing. I'm not good at it yet, but I'm satisfied with the way and speed I am progressing.

Cheers,
Jordan